Roger Warren Robinson

1942 - 2025

September 2, 1942 – August 31, 2025

Roger Warren Robinson, a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, and explorer, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025, just two days shy of his 83rd birthday. A longtime resident of Lancaster, California, Roger will be remembered for his creativity, curiosity, and adventurous spirit.

He was born and raised in Sacramento, California, to Roger and Beryl Robinson, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Kerry Craig.

He is survived by his wife, Sylva Robinson; his daughter Rachel Smith and her husband Rylan; his son Daniel Robinson and his wife Erin; and his grandchildren, Cavan (Kaelah), Dayton (Rebekah), and Corynn Smith, as well as Xavier and Joaquin Robinson.

For over 40 years, Roger shared his passion for knowledge as a professor of Anthropology and Archaeology at Antelope Valley College, inspiring generations of students. His love of exploration carried him far beyond the classroom - he spent many summers in Peru, researching and excavating ruins, and guiding countless students through the wonders of the Amazon rainforest. A real-life Indiana Jones, Roger survived snake bites, knife fights, a few unexpected encounters with South American authorities, and even malaria - facing each adventure with courage and good humor.

Beyond his adventures, Roger was a collector of tiny things and was endlessly fascinated by the forgotten histories of the common man. He valued family legacy and followed in the footsteps of his ancestors by not just reading their history, but by writing his own. He had a gift for finding meaning in the overlooked and beauty in the ordinary, weaving those discoveries into his teaching, research, and storytelling.

Roger's journey in field archeology began in 1960, but it was in 1967, when he joined Antelope Valley College, (AVC), in Lancaster, that his passion for teaching truly took root. Over the years, he led students and colleagues on unforgettable expeditions - studying the Tarahumara people in the Copper Canyons of Chihuahua, Mexico, and exploring the rugged landscapes of Baja California.

At AVC, Roger built a vibrant Anthropology program, adding courses in Cultural and Physical Anthropology, the Prehistory of the Antelope Valley, Archaeological Field Work in California, and even a Travel History of the region he called home. Perhaps most memorable were his summer classes in Peru, which ran from 1984 to 2006. As co-director with Alina Aparicio de la Riva, Roger guided students through hands-on research projects along Peru's south coast, in partnership with the California Institute for Peruvian Studies and the Universidad Cat?lica de Santa Mar?a in Arequipa.

A celebration of life for Roger Robinson will be held Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the Lazy T Ranch in Palmdale/Leona Valley, CA. Family and friends are invited to share lunch and memories of his adventurous life.